Spreader for tubular fabrics.



H. C. PHASE.

SPREADER FOR TUBULAR FABRICS. APPLICATION FILED H1B, ns. 1914.

1,1 1 3,905. Patented oet. 13, 1914.

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UNTTED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE- HARRY C. PEASE, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN,l ASSIGNOR TOA THE GRAND RAPIDS- TEXTILE MACHINERY COMPANY, 0F GRAND RAPIDS, MICHIGAN, A CORPORATION I oF MICHIGAN'.

SPREADER FOR TUBULAR FABRICS.

Specication of Letters Patent.

Patented oct. 13, 1914.

Application filed February 28, 1914. Serial No. 821,781.

To all whom-t may concern:

\Be it known that I, HARRY C. Priasn,V av

citizen of the United States of America, residing at Grand Rapids,in the county of Kent and State of Michigan, have invented same.

This invention relates to improvements in spreaders for tubular fabrics, and its object is to provide a device which will successfully perform its function; which `may be readilyadjusted to operate upon tubular fabrics of diHerent diameters, and to proa vide the device with various new and useful features hereinafter more fully described and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In handlingtubular knit fabric it 'is often desirable to pass the same between rollers of dierent machines for such purposes as folding the fabric flat in superposed layers, etc., and .in order that the fabric will pass in a smooth unwri-nkled condition it has, been customary to place within the fabric immediately above the rollers a device commonly known as a spreader, which spreads and lattens the tube and prevents it'from wrinkling as it passes between the rollers. This spreader is supported by the rollers, its lower edge being suficiently thick to prevent its passing between' them.

Owing to the different diameters in which the tubular fabric is knitjit has been con.

sidered necessary to provide spreaders of different widths to accommodate each different fabric, and it is the object of this inf vention to provide a spreader the width of which may be easily adj ustedso that the one device will successfully operate upon a variety of fabrics having different diameters. This object, togetherwith cert-ain new and useful features of construction and arrangement is accomplished by my invention, `a preferable embodiment of which is shown in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a device embodying this invention; Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevation of the lower part of the same with portions broken away; and Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional elevationof the device shown in operative p osition in a tubu said channel bar.

lar fabric with va portion `of the rollers between which the said fabric is passed.

Like numbers refer to like parts in all of the figures. v

1 represents the end members of the frame which are joined by an extensibly adjustable connecting member' comprising the inverted channel bar 2 fixed to one ofthe end members and theratchet bar 3 fixed to the opposite end member and telescoping into the The upperedge of the bar 3 is provided with ratchet teeth, and a detent 1 near the free end of the channel bar 2 engages said teeth. The ratchet bar .:withi'n the channel member is provided with a longitudinal slot 5, through which a. screw 6 passes which tends to retain the members 2 and 3 in assembled position and limits their relative longitudinal movement.

The end members l are provided with upwardly extending arms 7 which serve as the side members'of the spreader, and these arms converge toward their upper ends and are preferably bent downward and are connected at their ends by a contractile spring 8 which yieldably draws them toward each 1either and maintains the parts in adjusted position. When in use thefabric serves the same purpose and the spring is not necessary.

Two telescopic rollers 9 are arranged beneath the telescopic connecting members 2 and 3 and are journaled at their respective ends in the end'members 1.

It will be obvious that .the width of this device may readily be adjusted within the range limited by the length of the slot 5. The spring 8 normally adjusts the device to its narrowest diameter when the detent 4 is released, and by manually moving the side members apart the device may be widened and retained in such condition by engagementof the detent 4 with. the ratchet teeth on the bar 3. Looseness of the 4connections between the 1, different members provides sufficient Iiexibility to permit the end of the channel member 2 to be raised suihciently to disengage the detent from the ratchet teethv on the bar 3 when itis desired to adjust the device. All edges and corners are 'rounded and smooth, leaving nothing upon which the fabric can 1catch when thedevice is in operation. A

` The device after being adjusted is placed within the fabric 10 in the usual way, as

v gage the fabric a illustrated in ,Fig 3, andthe rollers 9 eno which the fabric is passed and thus eliminate 'friction and tendency to stretch or warp the material out of shape. What I- claim is 1. A spreader for tubular fabrics, com,

ve the rollers 11 through' having a detent, a ratchet bar attached to the other member and extending into the channel member and engaged by said detent. and longitudinallv extensible rollers extending between said side members.

4. A spreader for tubular fabrics, comprlsing separate side members converging at their upper ends, a spring attached to the upper ends of said members to draw them together, a channel bar attached to one member and having a detent,l a ratchet bar attached to the other member extending wi in said channel bar and engaged by the detent, and two longitudinallyr extensible rollers arranged parallel and extending between the lower ends of the-side members.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature -.in presence of two witnesses.

HARRY C. PEASE. Witnesses:

PALMER A. JONES,

LUTHER V. MoUL'roN. 

